AXED SERIES PREPPED BORNHEIMER FOR LOSER ROLE

After three failed network tries, he can relate to his character in new ABC show

“Family Tools”

When: 8:30 p.m. today (series debut)

Where: ABC

If nothing else, Kyle Bornheimer keeps swinging.

Since 2008, he’s starred in three network TV series: “Worst Week,” “Perfect Couples” and “Romantically Challenged.” None lasted more than 13 episodes, with “Romantically Challenged” getting axed after just three airings.

That hasn’t stop Bornheimer. He’s back in the ABC midseason replacement “Family Tools.” In a bit of art imitating life, Bornheimer plays a man who’s failed at a variety of jobs. He returns home to take over the family hardware business. It debuts at 8:30 tonight on ABC.

Bornheimer talks about his latest attempt to find success on network TV.

Q: What do you like about “Family Tools”?

A: I often think I’m the most reasonable person in the room until things go down and get serious, and then I’m the crazy person. So in this show, there’s a scene where I’m the straight person and I’m the reasonable one, and then one moment later I’m the one that’s making no sense and is nailing his foot to the deck. So the show gives me the range to do all that kind of stuff.

Q: Describe your character.

A: He’s optimistic for no reason, because he’s never had cause to think that he’s going to succeed in anything. When we meet him, he’s convinced this new adventure, which is taking over his dad’s business, is not only going to help him find himself, but he’s going to save him, his family and the business. As we know, I think, hopefully for eight or nine seasons, he will not find that. And that will be funny. But when we meet him, he’s tried the police academy. He’s tried the Marines.

Q: Is there an appeal to watching a guy who appears to be a loser?

A: I think that’s really fun to play because you can hit the reset button and commit fully, as opposed to being a neurotic who is shy about the next adventure. He’s right on board. He’s really going to nail it this time. And we know he won’t, but we’re just interested to see how he will screw it up this time.

Q: Your shows have ended quickly, but you did have a big Coors commercial. How was that?

A: My line was “big.” That was my word. I said “big,” and it was a compilation of a lot of people saying one sentence. And my word within the sentence was “big.” So literally I was in it for a split second. It was my third or fourth job.